China’s capital crackdown: Why Hong Kong will still keep its edge over Singapore, others

Programmes such as Stock Connect and Bond Connect boast mutual market access, as they link mainland China and global financial markets via the city.

Historically, Hong Kong offers greater depth in equity and debt capital markets – something Singapore is unable to beat due to its smaller investment universe, said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis.

Hong Kong also serves as an “international gateway” to markets in mainland China, experts noted. They allow investors to trade eligible Chinese onshore equities (or A-shares) and fixed-income securities directly, without the need for specialised quotas or onshore licences.

Investors do not see the use of either hubs as a “binary choice”, said Nick Cheung, managing director and head of Greater China from Morningstar. 

For example, a mainland Chinese entrepreneur may prefer listing their company in Hong Kong for greater capital-raising, price discovery on China risk, initial public offering underwriting and prime brokerage support.

“The same person, once liquid, could set up the family office in Singapore for wealth preservation, portfolio construction (and enhanced support on) FX, alternatives and multi-jurisdictional planning,” said Kenneth Goh, director of private wealth management at UOB KayHian.

The only point of real competition lies in the type and amount of talent each city attracts, he added.

“Asia is better served by that dual-hub model than a winner-takes-all contest… with clients now using both hubs at different stages of the wealth journey.”

Broader trends versus capital flight

As the compliance landscape tightens, corporate relocation strategies are being driven by broader macroeconomic trends rather than simple capital flight.

DBS’ Tse highlighted the “China+1” strategy and Asean supply chain reshoring as key catalysts for outward direct investment, positioning Singapore as a strategic conduit where “Chinese capital first reaches… before investing in Asean”.

While changes in regional supervision influence where companies consider listing, Singapore Exchange market strategist Geoff Howie noted that they typically “do not drive immediate relocation”.

Instead, capital concentrates in jurisdictions where liquidity depth, investor access and policy align with scalable business models, he said.

“There are viable alternatives across Apac, but each market has its own strengths rather than acting as a direct substitute,” Howe added. “International capital finds where it fits best, and that fit is shaped by multiple factors.

“Singapore will continue to benefit where companies are already aligned to governance standards, earnings visibility and capital discipline, which underpin listing readiness and sustained investor participation.”

While institutional funds map the broader Asia-Pacific region, OCBC’s Xie pointed out that SGX’s liquidity and valuations still significantly lag Hong Kong.

China’s regulatory tightening aligns with its newly formalised outbound investment framework, which establishes stronger state supervision over strategic sectors and cross-border mergers. 

Crucially, the rules introduce a “national security review mechanism with unwinding powers” and explicitly include individual residents within the regulatory perimeter – moves that OCBC’s Xie notes will heavily impact outbound wealth flows and offshore founder structures. 

Closer oversight of strategic technology sectors is an expected development to ensure alignment with national priorities, added SGX’s Howie. However, he pointed out this does not eliminate corporate interest in foreign markets.

Firms that can demonstrate strong alignment across governance, data considerations and regulatory requirements remain well-positioned to explore overseas listings, including in Singapore, he said.

Will ADRs be affected?

As legacy trading routes shift, this rigorous oversight is also accelerating a shift in international asset issuance.

OCBC’s Xie expects American Depository Receipts, which allow US investors to trade shares of overseas companies on American stock exchanges, to increasingly become a “depreciating asset class” as Chinese issuers pivot towards Hong Kong primary or A+H dual listings.

A+H dual listings refer to a corporate structure where a mainland Chinese company simultaneously issues and trades its shares on a domestic mainland exchange, issuing A-shares, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where it issues H-shares.

Conversely, there is growing thematic interest in alternative instruments. 

SGX’s Howie noted that trading of Singapore Depository Receipts (SDRs) in Hong Kong surged 166 per cent year on year to a record high of over S$13 million in the second quarter of 2026, driven by fractionalised units in Singapore dollars and the global relevance of the underlying stocks.

Overall SDR assets under management also more than doubled to surpass S$275 million.